Palm Desert Attractions. Your Ticket to Fun.

You don’t have to break the bank to stay busy in Palm Desert. In fact, you’ll find plenty of attractions in this sun-filled paradise that cost just a few dollars – or are even free. Check out some of our favorite Palm Desert attractions for every traveler.

Family-Friendly Fun

For just a few dollars, take the family to one of Palm Desert’s wildest attractions, the Living Desert Zoo & Gardens. With exhibits ranging from Gecko Gulch to Wildlife Wonders, you’re sure to find plenty of excitement.

The entire family will also love the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, offering "360° of Wow" as rotating tramcars whisk you 8,516 feet in the air to the Mountain Station.

Kids and adults alike will be fascinated by the Palm Springs Air Museum, featuring an up-close look at legendary World War II aircraft.

For even more fun with the kids – or just the kid in you – come cool off at the Palm Desert Aquatic Center, an eight-acre facility containing a 1,200 sq. ft. recreation pool, a fun splash park for the kids, two 20-foot water slides and an Olympic size swimming pool for a bit of exercise.

Cultural Connections

Palm Desert is famed for its dedication to arts and culture, and nowhere is this passion more prominent than in the city’s Art in Public Places program, featuring more than 130 works of art showcased throughout the city – and all for free.

If you’re in the mood for an evening out, The McCallum Theatre is the place for you. Enjoy an astonishing variety of world-class artists and distinguished ensembles and companies at this state-of-the-art performing arts center.

The Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert is an architecturally distinctive building that features ongoing and temporary art exhibitions in different media. The interior of the building, The Galen, houses four separate gallery areas for rotating exhibits, while the Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden is set in a lushly landscaped desert oasis of water features, native plants and winding walkways enhanced by the addition of major sculptures in both abstract and representational styles.

At the Historical Society of Palm Desert's museum, you'll experience a fascinating collection of historical photos, newspaper and magazine archives, as well as oral history on the founding fathers and early residents of Palm Desert.

With Desert Tasty Tours, enjoy a three-hour, guided culinary and cultural stroll along Palm Desert’s El Paseo. It combines enticing food tastings with historical, architectural and cultural insights from a knowledgeable local guide.

Adventure Tours

From Hummers to mountain bikes, there are plenty of ways to enjoy a thrilling tour of the Palm Desert and Palm Springs areas including Joshua Tree National Park, the San Andreas Fault and more. Check out a few of these exciting adventure tours for your next Palm Desert vacation.